Apple Spyware Threat For iPhone Users: What Is Lockdown Mode And How Does It Work

Apple sent out a spyware threat alert to iPhone users in India and over 91 countries earlier this month. The company has even explained the situation without giving the exact details. But Apple also advises its iPhone users to be careful about the activities, especially following up to incidents like these. The company introduced Lockdown Mode which ensures that users are protected against spyware that could be launched by state-sponsored hackers.

With the new spyware threat alert from Apple, the need to understand the use of lockdown mode and how it protects the iPhone users has come up again. So, what is lockdown mode, how does it work and how Apple protects users against advanced spyware with this tool.

WHAT IS LOCKDOWN MODE FOR IPHONES

Apple admitted that it has not managed to protect iPhone users from spyware that can intrude into their devices. For this reason, it launched the lockdown mode in 2022. Over the years, governments have been allegedly using these spywares to target individuals that have some connection with them.

Using the Lockdown Mode, Apple promises to protect its users against the state-sponsored spyware which can be infected into devices.

Apple views this mode as an “emergency button” which might be helpful for a select number of iPhone users. The company says the mode is seen as a last resort for people who might be targeted by the spyware. Turning on the lockdown mode is up to the user as they can manually toggle the on/off switch.

How to enable Lockdown Mode on iPhones

– Head over to Settings on your iPhone

– Scroll down to Privacy and Security

– Look for Lockdown Mode at the bottom of the page

– Tap on the mode

– Apple shows you another dialog box informing you about the severity of using this mode

– Click on Turn on Lockdown Mode

When you enable the Lockdown Mode on your iPhone, it will shut down all the features that can be exploited by the hackers. In addition to this, all the attachments you have received or sent through the Messages app will be blocked, but images will be allowed. Apple will also block the link preview option.